Safeguard has taken the lead for the 2024-25 Western Australian 2YO Sires’ premiership and the view from the top of the table isn’t anything new to Mogumber Park’s ‘King Of The Kids’.
He leap-frogged I’m All The Talk (Stratum) on Saturday thanks to another consummate front-running victory by the Paul Jordan-trained Castle Road in the TBWA Westspeed Platinum Plate (1000m) at Ascot (Photo / Western Racepix). Arion stats on Sunday showed Safeguard ($177,640) going clear of I’m All The Talk ($135,300) and the margin will increase when Arion adds Castle Road’s $41,500 Westspeed bonus this week.
Safeguard (Exceed And Excel) won WA 2YO and Freshman titles in 2018-19 and a second WA 2YO Award in 2022-23. He has built a superb 65% strike-rate since Castle Road’s older full-sister Specialism opened his stud account at Ascot in November 2018.
Their dam Clarecastle (Tribu) has an incredible record as a broodmare with 9 foals for 9 winners. The next in line is a Safeguard filly catalogued by Mogumber Park’s Colin Brown and Fiona Lacey for the 2025 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
“Castle Road could be a bit special,” Brown predicted. “Fiona and I remember Clarecastle from when she was sold as a yearling to Paul. She’s a mare that just keeps on producing and we will have her for life.”
Castle Road debuted with a three-length victory a fortnight ago and added another panel to that margin over Golden Opera (A Lot) and Salve Regina (Snippetson) on Westspeed Platinum Day.
“Paul said this morning he had taken a lot from that outing,” Brown relayed after the second odds-on victory in as many starts. “He has the scope to keep on improving and hopefully we’re in for a good journey.”
Mogumber Park races Castle Road with a large syndicate managed by Jordan’s wife Laura and jockey Craig Staples has won on every one of Clarecastle’s progeny. “I was just a passenger today,” Staples said. “He just likes to run and his manners today were ten times better than last time.
“It will be interesting to see how he reacts if ever crossed because he goes faster when I ask him to relax.”
Mogumber Park’s Safeguard – Clarecastle filly has been catalogued as Lot 13 for the Perth Magic Millions. The Bullsbrook-based vendor has 19 lots heading down to the Swan Valley Sale in February and its Awesome Rock colt from Castle Queen (Lot 7) is from an Oratorio daughter of Clarecastle.
